4 Pounds Of Cocaine Confiscated In Raid

February 17, 1986

A Cicero man was arrested Sunday afternoon, and nearly 4 pounds of cocaine were confiscated in a raid on a used-furniture store the man owned. The cocaine, which police said was worth about $1 million, was found ``in plain view`` on a table in the store`s office, said Lt. William Callaghan of the Chicago Police Department`s narcotics unit. Alex Blankenship, 34, of 1335 S. 49th Ave., Cicero, was arrested in the store he operates at 1400 S. Cicero Ave., in the west suburb, and charged with possession of a controlled substance, Callaghan said. Cicero police assisted in the raid, he said. Three plastic bags containing 1,700 grams of cocaine were seized.